Horse with equine herpes in stable condition

State releases data on other quarantined farms

Marni Von Schalburg of Toronto, Canada, rides Número Due in the grand prix practice ring Tuesday morning, near a rain puddle. Earlier in the morning there wasn't much jumping action at HITS as all the competitors and horses were hunkered down under a sea of tents and barns waiting out the heavy rains and winds at HITS Post Time Farm.

Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner

By Carlos E. MedinaCorrespondent

Published: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 4:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 4:56 p.m.

Five days after a horse at the annual HITS Winter Circuit showed signs of illness, no new cases of equine herpes virus (EHV-1) have arisen at the show’s Post Time Farm near Ocala.

In response to the positive test for EHV-1, the state issued several quarantine orders — including one for the tent where the horse was housed at Post Time Farm — but allowed the competition to continue. The show runs through March 17.

On Tuesday, the state added two new quarantine orders to the seven previously issued. Four of the facilities are in Marion County.

Up Country Farm of Ocala was issued a quarantine order last Friday because the affected horse was stabled there before going to the HITS showgrounds. The other farms were quarantined because horses housed there may have been exposed to the virus. Those farms include: Montera Farm, Ocala; Flutterby Farm, Ocala; Kings Ridge Farm, Reddick; Brookmore Farm, Oviedo; Foxwood Farms, Pinellas Park; Black Forest Farm, St. Augustine; and Littlewood Farm, Wellington.

The two new quarantine orders come as state investigators continue to track down horses that were housed in the same tent as the affected horse at Post Time Farm. The quarantine orders do not necessarily affect the entire farms, but rather the areas where animals of concern are housed.

The quarantines are in effect for 21 days and animals cannot leave or enter the areas. The virus is spread between horses through the air via sneezing and coughing. It does not affect humans. Humans, however, can spread the virus from horse to horse via contaminated hands, clothing and shoes. Contaminated feed and water buckets also are culprits in the spread of the illness.

No restrictions for travel of horses in and out of the state have been ordered, according to the state.

The affected horse in Ocala was on the HITS property for about a week before showing neurological problems due to the virus, which was of the “wild strain” not the more aggressive “mutant strain” of the potentially deadly virus, according to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Division of Animal Industry.

The horse remains in stable condition at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

With no new or suspected cases of the virus, the timeline for new cases is drawing to a close. Incubation periods for the virus can be as short as 24 hours, but are typically between four to six days, according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

<p>Five days after a horse at the annual HITS Winter Circuit showed signs of illness, no new cases of equine herpes virus (EHV-1) have arisen at the show's Post Time Farm near Ocala.</p><p>In response to the positive test for EHV-1, the state issued several quarantine orders — including one for the tent where the horse was housed at Post Time Farm — but allowed the competition to continue. The show runs through March 17.</p><p>On Tuesday, the state added two new quarantine orders to the seven previously issued. Four of the facilities are in Marion County.</p><p>Up Country Farm of Ocala was issued a quarantine order last Friday because the affected horse was stabled there before going to the HITS showgrounds. The other farms were quarantined because horses housed there may have been exposed to the virus. Those farms include: Montera Farm, Ocala; Flutterby Farm, Ocala; Kings Ridge Farm, Reddick; Brookmore Farm, Oviedo; Foxwood Farms, Pinellas Park; Black Forest Farm, St. Augustine; and Littlewood Farm, Wellington.</p><p>The two new quarantine orders come as state investigators continue to track down horses that were housed in the same tent as the affected horse at Post Time Farm. The quarantine orders do not necessarily affect the entire farms, but rather the areas where animals of concern are housed.</p><p>The quarantines are in effect for 21 days and animals cannot leave or enter the areas. The virus is spread between horses through the air via sneezing and coughing. It does not affect humans. Humans, however, can spread the virus from horse to horse via contaminated hands, clothing and shoes. Contaminated feed and water buckets also are culprits in the spread of the illness.</p><p>No restrictions for travel of horses in and out of the state have been ordered, according to the state.</p><p>The affected horse in Ocala was on the HITS property for about a week before showing neurological problems due to the virus, which was of the “wild strain” not the more aggressive “mutant strain” of the potentially deadly virus, according to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Division of Animal Industry.</p><p>The horse remains in stable condition at the University of Florida in Gainesville.</p><p>With no new or suspected cases of the virus, the timeline for new cases is drawing to a close. Incubation periods for the virus can be as short as 24 hours, but are typically between four to six days, according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners.</p>